Can I use my oxygen while using a soldering iron?
Hi wolfsister003 and thanks for posting your inquiry.
In the most general of terms, it's not a good idea to use oxygen around electrical devices for temporary work. Wearing your supplemental oxygen while using a soldering gun might put you at risk should there be some sort of electrical spark from the gun itself or electrical outlet.
Some 'might' say this is being too careful or not a necessary precaution. When it comes to using oxygen (which supports combustion), my belief is to err on the side of caution.
What do you think?
All the best,
Leon (site moderator)That is what I have been told also. Would wearing a mask change anything
Hi again, wolfsister003. For reasons of safety, the oxygen device you're using wouldn't make a difference, so whether it's a nasal cannula or an oxygen mask, the safety concerns would be the same. It's the presence of an oxygen enriched atmosphere that poses the risk should there be an electrical spark of some kind.
I don't know for how long a period of time you will be doing the actual soldering, but for whatever length of time that is, would it be possible for you to breathe safely without using oxygen? That might be worth considering with your physician.
Warm regards,
Leon (site moderator)
Yes, you can. Soldering does not create sparks or flames, unless you catch fabric on fire. This could happen with welding, but not generally with soldering. However, soldering does create fumes, which folks like us have to be very careful of. So I keep a 3M filtering ventilator mask on my bench, and use it for soldering, leather-burning, gluing, painting, etc., and also for sanding, or any process that generates dust or other particles, like removing rust and dirt when cleaning objects. I also have a clip-on fan on the bench to blow fumes away from me when needed. What I definitely do NOT do, is wear my oxygen in the kitchen when I'm cooking, since I have a gas stove! I just have to go back and forth. Fun!
